Hundreds of people are to be welcomed into Perth homes for this year’s Advent window walk.
Twenty-four homes in Craigie and Moncreiffe are being lit up in the run-up to Christmas.
Each will contain a decorated window that will be unveiled on separate days – just as a box is opened on an Advent calendar.
And each reveal will be marked by a get-together with members of the public invited. Visitor numbers to each house typically range between 15 and 85.
The event began in 2019 and is now in its fourth year.
One of its organisers is Jaime Lidstone, who kicked off proceedings on Thursday evening with a display and gathering at her home in Glengarry Road, Moncreiffe.
Pictures of this event, below, were taken by Steve MacDougall / DC Thomson
She said: “The idea is to get people out at a time of year when they usually stay in.
“There is not much of an incentive to leave the house on a December evening.
“So this encourages them to go on walks, bump into neighbours and meet new people.”
How it began
Jaime will be at every daily unveiling until December 24.
Bringing people together is one of her passions, having previously worked as a community leader at Gateway Community Church, based at Glenearn Community Campus.
The idea spawned in the mid-2010s when she placed an Advent calendar in her front window.
“It had 24 panels and I turned over a panel each day and it spelt out a message.
“I really enjoyed it and in 2019 I put out a shout out to my friends.
“There were 25 of us and we agreed to reveal one window a night for Advent.
“It could be any sort of picture – it didn’t matter what – as long as it had a number.”
How it works
The principle is the same this year.
Participants can set up their window with whichever design they see fit.
“Some people have tissue paper, others window chalks,” Jaime explained.
“It just has to contain a number so you know you have found the Advent number.”
The night before the reveal a location clue goes up on the event’s Facebook page.
The exact address is then published at 6.30pm on the day of the reveal, along with the clue for the following evening.
Visitors who go to the address partake in a countdown before the window is unveiled.
They also receive at least a chocolate.
“There is no pressure on the hosts to do anything more that,” Jaime said.
“We just want them to volunteer to do a window and not everyone is a party person.”
Entertainment for visitors
Some hosts do go further though.
Jaime added: “We have mince pies at some houses, we have had themed snacks.
“One year someone had a snowman window and gave out snowballs, while someone had a Narnia window and gave out Turkish Delights.
“Some get their guitar out and we sing Christmas songs. Some have music on, and others not. You never know what you are going to get.
“People tend to hang around and chat for 10 to 15 minutes and then go back home again.”
Boxing Day climax
The final unveiling usually takes place at Jaime’s on Christmas Day but this year there were no takers for December 1 so she hosted that day instead.
But the event will climax, as usual, on Boxing Day at 4pm with a walk that takes in all 24 Advent windows.
We see people coming in from Letham and other places and they have made it a nightly routine to come in
An accompanying map is also published to help people discover the route.
Creating a route that is easily walked is one of the reasons why the trail has never gone outside Moncreiffe and Craigie.
This is also why each participant commits to having their Advent window lit up from 6.30pm to 8.30pm throughout December.
Not only do walkers benefit, but the local running club uses it as a route for its sessions.
Lasting friendships
The event attracts people from all over Perth and has helped foster long-lasting friendships.
“We see people coming in from Letham and other places and they have made it a nightly routine to come in,” Jaime said.
“One couple brand new to the area got involved.
“They made core friends who were volunteers so it has worked really well for them.”
Conversation